Classic Copenhagen shot. Spring cleaning. A can of oil sprayed here and there and a dish cloth half-heartedly rubbing some dirt and grit away. Ready for summer! Chain hopped off. Took a moment to fix it.
Chain hopped off? Where are the wrenches to loosen the rear axle, slide it backwards to tighten the chain, then tighten the axle? Otherwise it will simply pop off again ... or go buy a new one since this one has stretched with wear. Chain slack is an important thing to be aware of. :-)
I can only speak for the Netherlands, but as far as I know most people here don't know how to fix a bike, I mean, I can reajust my seat and handlebars, but that's it. Everything else is for the bicycle repairman.
I think you need to remember that a bike here is what a car is for most people in the US, so people can replace a tire, maybe check the oil, but that's it. If you're not a car afficionado you have no clue, and just let someone else repair it. Same goes for bikes over here.
I think a pizza is a better metaphor than a car. Fixing a car can actually be quite complicated, while making a pizza is something anyone can learn quite easily, and so is fixing a bicycle.
So while people eat a lot of pizzas, they don't make the pizzas themselves even thought it's easy to do. Just like they don't fix bikes even though it's easy.
The opinion of the people in my social set is that the cost of flat-resistant tyres is much less than the cost and inconvenience of getting a flat.
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres came as standard equipment on my Pashley and I have never got a flat.
In the event that I did, why would I get myself dirty fixing it myself? The shop around the corner will replace the inner tube for $20. Well worth it to stay clean.
Had an interesting conversation about this with some friends last night. Turns out that 100% of them know how to patch a puncture, and did so as teenagers.
But now, as adults, all except one lets a bike shop do all "dirty" work like fix flats. And flat-resistant tyres have made this rare.
In other words, we have the skills but choose not to use them.
I, for one, am learning to take a bike apart, clean out all the fiddly parts, repack everything, put it all back together.... it is a bunch of fun and quite empowering. The bike I bought, for $40, was in really rough shape but is becoming quite lovely and will work like a charm when I am done. Oh, and I just washed my daily bike, so that should give everyone a chuckle (next time I will even polish it!)
my boy and I have a bike wasshing/oiling session twice a year. in the spring and the fall. it's fun and sociable. out in the front yard in the sunshine.
11 thinking out louds:
Chain hopped off? Where are the wrenches to loosen the rear axle, slide it backwards to tighten the chain, then tighten the axle? Otherwise it will simply pop off again ... or go buy a new one since this one has stretched with wear. Chain slack is an important thing to be aware of. :-)
Does the average copenhagener know how to fix a flat, or do they leave it with a shop?
I can only speak for the Netherlands, but as far as I know most people here don't know how to fix a bike, I mean, I can reajust my seat and handlebars, but that's it. Everything else is for the bicycle repairman.
I think you need to remember that a bike here is what a car is for most people in the US, so people can replace a tire, maybe check the oil, but that's it. If you're not a car afficionado you have no clue, and just let someone else repair it. Same goes for bikes over here.
I think a pizza is a better metaphor than a car. Fixing a car can actually be quite complicated, while making a pizza is something anyone can learn quite easily, and so is fixing a bicycle.
So while people eat a lot of pizzas, they don't make the pizzas themselves even thought it's easy to do. Just like they don't fix bikes even though it's easy.
i'm sure a lot of people know how to fix a flat, but why bother when you have to get off to work or somewhere else.
that's what bike shops are for.
The opinion of the people in my social set is that the cost of flat-resistant tyres is much less than the cost and inconvenience of getting a flat.
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres came as standard equipment on my Pashley and I have never got a flat.
In the event that I did, why would I get myself dirty fixing it myself? The shop around the corner will replace the inner tube for $20. Well worth it to stay clean.
absolutely, kevin. puncture-proof tyres are becoming standard on new bikes here, too.
Had an interesting conversation about this with some friends last night. Turns out that 100% of them know how to patch a puncture, and did so as teenagers.
But now, as adults, all except one lets a bike shop do all "dirty" work like fix flats. And flat-resistant tyres have made this rare.
In other words, we have the skills but choose not to use them.
I, for one, am learning to take a bike apart, clean out all the fiddly parts, repack everything, put it all back together.... it is a bunch of fun and quite empowering. The bike I bought, for $40, was in really rough shape but is becoming quite lovely and will work like a charm when I am done.
Oh, and I just washed my daily bike, so that should give everyone a chuckle (next time I will even polish it!)
my boy and I have a bike wasshing/oiling session twice a year. in the spring and the fall. it's fun and sociable. out in the front yard in the sunshine.
You took the first photo to show bike maintenance ... right. :D
Post a Comment